Tenganan Ancient Village
Tenganan Ancient Village
3.5
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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3.5
522 reviews
Excellent
126
Very good
151
Average
121
Poor
64
Terrible
60
Raymondale
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia921 contributions
Nov 2022
last month i revisited here when i was going to candidasa,i had a tour with a driver. tenganan village is the last stop.i remembered the first time when i visited here,i bought a lontar painting book.on the second time i visited here,i bought a ikat weaving cloth. and i watched its famous pandan war twice.this time, i visited double ikat weaving workshop and ratten basket shop.i didnt buy any double ikat clothes,cuz the price quite expensive.but i bought two small rattern baskets,the seller explained to me why rattan basket is expensive,cuz the quality is very good.i agreed with her.that day,i was the last traveller ,so the village is quiet,i felt comfortable.i will come here again,maybe watching pandan war again, or maybe shopping again,or just wandering around the village.
Written 23 December 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
MadeInOz
Cairns Region, Australia363 contributions
Jul 2022
I cant say I know anymore upon leaving than I did on arriving. Our driver took us here telling us it was a traditional village, like a working museum. When we got there we made an expected 'donation' which I'm happy to do.
We were the only ones there so the village guy took us on a walk through the village. A very slow walk with a couple of explanations of a few buildings that all seemed to have the same purpose. We saw a couple of the village children but that was it apart from a few caged roosters (used for cock fighting) and a couple of buffalos. The only building we were taken inside was a batik fabric place but it was literally just a shop, there was no demonstration or anyone doing anything inside the place. Bit of pressure to look/buy but we kept walking because we didnt find any of the pieces appealing.
It could have been great, but its sadly lacking. If this is a working museum/village then there wasnt much working going on. It could be beautiful even in an authentic way but it was quite boring because it was literally walking up one street and then down the other. We didnt visit any homes or learn about any traditional crafts, cooking, music, art or anything else you would expect to at a traditional museum/village.
We were the only ones there so the village guy took us on a walk through the village. A very slow walk with a couple of explanations of a few buildings that all seemed to have the same purpose. We saw a couple of the village children but that was it apart from a few caged roosters (used for cock fighting) and a couple of buffalos. The only building we were taken inside was a batik fabric place but it was literally just a shop, there was no demonstration or anyone doing anything inside the place. Bit of pressure to look/buy but we kept walking because we didnt find any of the pieces appealing.
It could have been great, but its sadly lacking. If this is a working museum/village then there wasnt much working going on. It could be beautiful even in an authentic way but it was quite boring because it was literally walking up one street and then down the other. We didnt visit any homes or learn about any traditional crafts, cooking, music, art or anything else you would expect to at a traditional museum/village.
Written 12 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
S M
9 contributions
Aug 2022 • Family
We visited on a hot sleepy afternoon - wonderful tranquil village where you can visit homes and learn about traditional crafts and ceremonies. Our guide was a really decent man and there was absolutely NO pressure to buy. It's a living village - not a museum - and a precious bit of Bali. Definitely recommend.
Written 3 August 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Steve D
Kersbrook, Australia139 contributions
Mar 2020
Our hired driver took us here without doing any research. If I had have read the comments on TA I probably wouldn't have gone. In saying that our guide in the village was fantastic. He was very educational. We did end up in his home where he tried to sell us sarongs and artwork at exorbitant prices. We ended up buying a Bali map for 400k to save face as we felt a bit embarrassed. Think twice before going.
Written 22 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Wandermore.
Normanville, Australia54 contributions
Mar 2020 • Friends
We were really excited to do this tour and gain insight into traditional Balinese life. It started with meeting our local guide who was lovely, friendly and full of information. We were then asked if we’d like to see his house, we walked inside and it was basically a shop with his wife standing there. We were then stuck there for an awkward 20 minutes while he continued to pressure us to buy sarongs and maps. When we eventually got out by basically just walking out, his demeanour completely changed and he barely spoke, power walked and was almost rude as he whipped us back to the car. Once there he continued to pressure our driver to tell him where we were staying.
It’s sad to have to leave this review but I feel that other visitors should be aware of what happens here. While I understood that this is how they make an income, it was an extreme amount of pressure to buy while in someone’s home and was a very uncomfortable experience.
It’s sad to have to leave this review but I feel that other visitors should be aware of what happens here. While I understood that this is how they make an income, it was an extreme amount of pressure to buy while in someone’s home and was a very uncomfortable experience.
Written 10 March 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Ni P
Taito, Japan162 contributions
Dec 2019 • Family
I am giving this 2 stars only because of the beautiful lush green surroundings is this village. Otherwise .. it was a complete waste and disappointing experience.
Our local guide shared no information .. just took us inside a few home shops - where the residents seemed sad, distracted and disinterested.. the local architecture, layout - didn’t provide any further insight or understanding of Old Balinese ways or anything.
It actually makes me sad to give this poor review as I am guessing they depend on tourists. Hopefully we just had a rare, below average experience.
We have visited many other similar and much more insightful and interesting village / traditional life experiences in Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam and India .. this one doesn’t even come close.
My point - Don’t sell yourself as an experience- if you aren’t going to even try. ..
Our local guide shared no information .. just took us inside a few home shops - where the residents seemed sad, distracted and disinterested.. the local architecture, layout - didn’t provide any further insight or understanding of Old Balinese ways or anything.
It actually makes me sad to give this poor review as I am guessing they depend on tourists. Hopefully we just had a rare, below average experience.
We have visited many other similar and much more insightful and interesting village / traditional life experiences in Malaysia, Laos, Vietnam and India .. this one doesn’t even come close.
My point - Don’t sell yourself as an experience- if you aren’t going to even try. ..
Written 30 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
robynchristensen7
Bathurst, Australia12 contributions
Nov 2019
This village is beautiful ( very photogenic!) The villagers still work on their craft as the have done for generations. Items cost a little more but having the opportunity to watch how much skill and patience go into a piece is priceless. I was happy to pay for my double ikat and traditional calender stories, still barter but be reasonable. None of us want to work or create for nothing! The village was clean and tidy, the people were friendly and not at all pushy. We had young children with us, they were intrigued by the crafts and were not repremanded by locals when one young child chased the chickens! We left a donation on the way out.
Written 17 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
royjava6
The Hague, The Netherlands314 contributions
Oct 2019
We visited a "Kopi Luwak farm" close to Tenganan, and at first it was very interesting. It is an originally Indonesian coffee. The palm civet cat is the name of Luwak, a shy animal, living a lonely life in the jungle area , eating coffee berries as an ingredient of his diet. Indonesian coffee pickers were not allowed to eat the Luwak berries, during colonial times, and collected the feces of the luwak. They found the coffee berries, which taste became famous. And even a luxury product that was named the most expensive coffee in the world. I do not like coffee (a tea drinker). When I found out about the terrible circumstances the Luwak civet cat lives I say NO to the Luwak attraction. No longer in their free habitat, but kept and trapped in small cages. Sorry, NOT for me! Even it is a wonderful product for coffee lovers.
Written 7 December 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
truereview
Bali, Indonesia10 contributions
Sep 2019
We went with a guide from our hotel. The village history and culture is interesting.
Before we even got to the village, our guide was telling us that he would take us only to the best shop and there was absolutely no pressure to buy .. and acted quite offended at the thought. So he took us to a shop.... we surprised one of the males who was counting huge wads of rupiah. He disappeared pretty fast and a woman came to point at some of the textiles. They were no better than anywhere else - they also had the same tourist rubbish as other place. We asked where things were from... not even all of the textiles were locally made.
When we said we weren't going to buy, the shop owner just walked away. Our guide was put out. We asked to go to smaller 'real' stores and he pretended not to understand. So we walked into another store but it was pretty much the same experience.
The economic benefits of tourism are important and we happily buy for genuine articles- but this was just too cynical.
Before we even got to the village, our guide was telling us that he would take us only to the best shop and there was absolutely no pressure to buy .. and acted quite offended at the thought. So he took us to a shop.... we surprised one of the males who was counting huge wads of rupiah. He disappeared pretty fast and a woman came to point at some of the textiles. They were no better than anywhere else - they also had the same tourist rubbish as other place. We asked where things were from... not even all of the textiles were locally made.
When we said we weren't going to buy, the shop owner just walked away. Our guide was put out. We asked to go to smaller 'real' stores and he pretended not to understand. So we walked into another store but it was pretty much the same experience.
The economic benefits of tourism are important and we happily buy for genuine articles- but this was just too cynical.
Written 21 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
NicB
Perth, Australia72 contributions
Nov 2019 • Friends
We were lucky enough to be shown around this ancient village from the 1600s by one of the elders. He was extremely informative and took us into his home to show us the traditional weaving done by his wife. The village is still functioning today. A very lovely stroll through a beautiful old village. You will need to provide a donation to be admitted to the village but this pays for your guide. If you want to see the more of the authentic Bali then add this to your bucket list.
Written 16 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
davidkG5550CR
Greater Adelaide, Australia3 contributions
I suggest Annie F you do some research before you make your trip and comments. There is no hassling to sell as in some passars. Stupid reactions like this deter people from visiting. We are talking about a very insular community that has evolved through centuries.
Your review is bulldog. Get your facts right before posting again.
Annie F
Adelaide, Australia253 contributions
Hi davidG5550CR - presuming you are not trolling, I would ask you to please review the guidelines about posting on TripAdvisor. Reviews are the opinions and experiences of each individual traveller and my review was my experience and I feel was more respectful than your response.
aaw50
Dunedin, New Zealand2 contributions
What time is best to arrive n the day of Perang Pandan? are we able to just pay an entrance fee without hiring a guide on this day, o does the guide included in the entrance fee during Perang Pandan? Thanks :)
Raymondale
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia921 contributions
Usually it starts at 13.00-14.00, so better arrive around 11.00 am or 11.30am.you can walk around the village,and no guide there,just pay the entrance fee(donation),better wear appropriate clothes,cuz it is a religious ceremony.
What time can you enter the village?
Kara T
Las Vegas, NV7 contributions
We arrived at 11am. But I think they will be willing to open the door anytime for you to throw $1million rupiah at a piece of 3rd rate sarong. Becareful, this is a tourist trap.
har25sh
55 contributions
hi.how do we reach this village?Will hiring a cab do?
lindale
Stourbridge, UK540 contributions
All depends where you are staying! Nowhere is that far...but how long do you want to spend in a car?
Taxis are very cheap and plentiful. A good driver will sort out an interesting itinerary for you so you get to see so much more.
370Charles
New Brunswick, Canada5 contributions
Is there shuttle service from airport to your hotel? What is the cost?
For private car tours , is there car & guide? What is cost for a full day?
Thanks
CCH
BennettG
Durham, NC130 contributions
The answer to both questions is yes. The cost of such things on Bali is quite reasonable, but it is best to email the hotel directly for prices.
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Tenganan Ancient Village - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Tenganan Ancient Village
- We recommend booking Tenganan Ancient Village tours ahead of time to secure your spot. If you book with Tripadvisor, you can cancel up to 24 hours before your tour starts for a full refund. See all 57 Tenganan Ancient Village tours on Tripadvisor
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- Hotels near Tenganan Ancient Village:
- (4.21 km) Alila Manggis
- (3.92 km) Sagara Candidasa
- (4.18 km) Aquaria
- (4.32 km) Ganesh Lodge
- (3.50 km) Ramayana Candidasa
- Restaurants near Tenganan Ancient Village:
- (3.47 km) LOAF Candidasa
- (3.43 km) Warung Bintang
- (3.58 km) Warung Padang Kecag
- (3.34 km) Warung Lu Putu
- (4.33 km) Ganesh Lodge